Fake accounts set up by fraudsters posing as a 12-year-old attack victim are being investigated by the police.

Schoolgirl Evee-Anne Cooper was viciously assaulted in a vile ordeal filmed on a mobile phone in Arlington Gardens, Margate, last Thursday at about 3.30pm.

A number of Charles Dickens School pupils - where Evee-Anne attends - who shared the distressing footage have been excluded or suspended.

Kirstin Cardus, executive head teacher of the school in Broadstairs, today sent a letter to parents following a meeting with Evee-Anne's parents on Tuesday.

It reads: "Evee-Anne is making a recovery and is hoping to return to school shortly.

"They have asked the school to thank all the parents and well-wishers for their kind words and offers of support.

"They have also asked for calm to let Evee-Anne recover and try to return to school as normal.

"They have particularly highlighted that there is a lot of fake news on social media and in the public domain and a lot of fake accounts reporting to be Evee-Anne.

"They are very disappointed by this and asked people to be aware. The police are investigating these in addition to the incident.

"The school looks forward to welcoming Evee-Anne back into our school community as soon as she is ready and I am sure all students/parents will want to support her with this process."

The school had previously released a statement condemning the attack on Evee-Anne by a girl said to be a former pupil at the school.

Sickening footage of the assault shows Evee-Anne being grabbed by her hair and struck four times in the face before a knee to her head knocks her to the ground.

In the 33-second clip, she then begs for the beating to stop, but her attacker punches her another four times in the face as she holds her head up by her hair.

As she cries out and lays on the pavement, the thug kicks her twice more in the face and then stamps on her head, knocking her unconscious.

Girls, aged 13, 14 and 15, were later arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail.

The video of the ordeal was filmed in Arlington Gardens, Margate, at 3.30pm last Thursday.

It is so distressing that KentOnline has decided not to show it.

Evee-Anne was taken to hospital for treatment for head injuries.

Her heartbroken dad, Paul Cooper, says watching the vile assault left him feeling like the "world was caving in" beneath him.

Speaking to KentOnline's sister paper, the Thanet Extra, the day after the attack, he said: "When I first saw the video I couldn't watch it - it was heartbreaking.

"I got extremely upset in the evening at the hospital. I had to go outside and get some air.

"And then I spoke to Evee-Anne and watched all of it later on - it was like the world was just caving in from underneath my feet.

"At the end of the video when she was stamped on she was knocked out, clean unconscious on the floor.

"For me, watching that was like watching my little girl die - that's what it felt like inside.

"I don't think people understand how horrific it is until they watch the video.

"People are still commenting saying 'I don't know how this girl is alive'."

Evee-Anne was recovering at home the morning after the attack, with her family heartened by the deluge of support from the local community and across the country - including A-list celebrities calling for justice.

Hollywood actor Hugh Grant took to Twitter to say the parents of those responsible should be arrested.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Evee-Anne has collected more than £6,000.

A police spokesman said: "Officers are aware of concerns regarding social media accounts which may not be genuine.

"Initial enquiries are taking place to establish whether any offences have taken place."